Justise Winslow waits to be interviewed after being selected 10th overall by the Miami Heat during the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 25, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

It was a curious decision by the Pistons to pass on Duke’s Justise Winslow in favor of Arizona’s Stanley Johnson in the NBA Draft.

It certainly was not a popular move in this town, robbing wind from the sails of excitement about the draft. It also brought about an onslaught of criticism from pundits nationally toward the Pistons.

Could this be Darko 2.0?

Winslow starred for Duke during the Blue Devils’ run to an NCAA championship as a freshman. He is athletic, a slasher, who creates opportunities, and truly a jet in the open floor. He does possess the skill set to be a solid NBA defender, and has an OK upside as a long-range shooter.

Arizona had a terrific team, too, and Johnson was a big-time high school player in California, who also starred as a freshman, but without nearly the same sizzle. His NCAA tournament ended with a subpar performance during a loss to Wisconsin – the team Duke beat in the NCAA Championship Game.

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Most projections had Johnson going later in the NBA Draft than eighth overall, the Pistons’ spot. It appeared as if Winslow would go before eighth. I strongly believe the Pistons should have selected Winslow instead of Johnson.

The Pistons praise Johnson’s versatility, claiming he can do a little bit of everything – play the two, the three or even the four, the latter if they go “small ball,” and claim he can guard multiple types of offensive players.

That’s one way to look at it. Another is that Johnson is the classic “tweener,” and therefore a jack of all trades and the master of none.

In the era in which the 3-point shot has essentially taken over the NBA, he doesn’t project as a top 3-point shooter. Neither, honestly, does Winslow, but his upside in that area appears higher.

Both Johnson and Winslow are just 19. Shooting is a skill, which can get considerably better by sheer volume of proper practice. The NBA three is a considerably more difficult shot than the college version. It’s impossible looking at Johnson and Winslow side-by-side at this stage and projecting which will actually contribute more from behind the arc.

Johnson is Van Gundy’s initial first-round draft choice directing the Pistons’ basketball operation. He is not on a tight leash in this town. It’s the opposite. Van Gundy has essentially been given a free pass. Even so, the Johnson-over-Winslow choice raised a lot of eyebrows - and not in a good way.

It wasn’t a comforting feeling when virtually everyone proclaimed the Miami Heat “a big winner” on draft night because Winslow “fell into their lap,” while the Pistons were regarded as “a draft loser” because they “reached” for Johnson.

I would have done everything possible to trade up for Mario Hezonja, who was taken fifth overall by Orlando. Having failed that, I would have been screaming at the top my lungs in thanks for Winslow still being there at No. 8. Then, I would have submitted Winslow’s name immediately – and never looked back.

But, and this is not what people necessarily want to hear, you have to let time pass and see how this NBA Draft plays out for the Pistons.

It’s possible they will be right – and the rest of the Free World wrong.

It wasn’t too long ago, this town was even more up in arms when Joe Dumars passed on Michigan’s Trey Burke in favor of Georgia’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Burke was definitely the better player as a rookie, but by the end of last season, their second in the NBA, it appears KCP is the better player.

Also, it’s only fair to give Van Gundy the summer to see if he can improve the team via free agency and/or trades, and how Johnson fits into that plan.

However, as is, it’s impossible not to second guess this pick. Winslow was the obvious choice to virtually every observer of this draft.

The Pistons better be right.

Or it’s a selection that will haunt them – like Darko Milicic - for years.

About the Author

Pat Caputo has written as a beat writer and sports columnist for The Oakland Press since 1984 and blogs at http://patcaputo.blogspot.com/. Reach the author at pat.caputo@oakpress.com
or follow Pat on Twitter: @PatCaputo98.